Hearing

Catch every word, sign, or signal.

NewSound Recognition

Sound the alarm without hearing a sound.

Sound Recognition listens for certain sounds and uses on‑device intelligence to notify you when a specific sound is detected. Whether you’re using your iPhone or iPad, you’ll receive a notification when a particular type of sound or alert, such as a fire alarm or doorbell, is detected.1

Available on:

iPhone, iPad

Sound Recognition listens for certain sounds and uses on‑device intelligence to notify you when a specific sound is detected. Whether you’re using your iPhone or iPad, you’ll receive a notification when a particular type of sound or alert, such as a fire alarm or doorbell, is detected.1

Set up Sound Recognition on:

NewHeadphone Accommodations

Customize your headphones to your hearing needs.

Whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie, or talking to a loved one, Headphone Accommodations help you customize your audio experience to make the world sound crisp and clear. Amplify soft sounds and adjust certain sound frequencies based on your individual hearing needs. If you already have your own audiogram, you can add it to your settings. If not, you’ll walk through a series of listening tests that allow you to set up as many as nine unique profiles based on your personal sound preferences.2

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro, AirPods, EarPods, Beats

Whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie, or talking to a loved one, Headphone Accommodations help you customize your audio experience to make the world sound crisp and clear. Amplify soft sounds and adjust certain sound frequencies based on your individual hearing needs. If you already have your own audiogram, you can add it to your settings. If not, you’ll walk through a series of listening tests that allow you to set up as many as nine unique profiles based on your personal sound preferences.2

Set up Headphone Accommodations on:

Live Listen

Tune out the noise
and hear more of what matters.

Live Listen is an assistive listening feature that helps you have better conversations in loud places. Just turn on the feature and move your device toward the people you’re talking with. Live Listen uses the microphone to pick up what they’re saying more clearly.3

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro, Made for iPhone hearing aids

Live Listen is an assistive listening feature that helps you have better conversations in loud places. Just turn on the feature and move your device toward the people you’re talking with. Live Listen uses the microphone to pick up what they’re saying more clearly.3

Set up Live Listen on:

Made for iPhone hearing aids

Designed to just work. Wherever your day takes you.

Apple has worked with top manufacturers to create hearing aids and sound processors designed specifically for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. These advanced hearing devices provide outstanding sound quality, offer many helpful features, and are as easy to set up and use as any other Bluetooth device. Instantly apply your audiologist’s environmental presets as you go outdoors or enter noisy locations, like restaurants, without having to rely on additional remotes.

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

Apple has worked with top manufacturers to create hearing aids and sound processors designed specifically for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. These advanced hearing devices provide outstanding sound quality, offer many helpful features, and are as easy to set up and use as any other Bluetooth device. Instantly apply your audiologist’s environmental presets as you go outdoors or enter noisy locations, like restaurants, without having to rely on additional remotes.

Set up Made for iPhone hearing aids on:

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Sensory Alerts

See your alerts.
Or feel them.

Your device lets you know when something’s up, in a way you’ll notice. Choose from visual or vibrating alerts for incoming phone and FaceTime calls, new text messages, new and sent mail, and calendar events. You can set an LED light flash for incoming calls or have your iPhone display a photo of the caller. If you’re on your Mac, have it flash its screen when an app needs your attention. Or if you’re on the go, turn on the Taptic Engine on your Apple Watch to give you a gentle tap every time a notification comes in.

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, iPod touch

Your device lets you know when something’s up, in a way you’ll notice. Choose from visual or vibrating alerts for incoming phone and FaceTime calls, new text messages, new and sent mail, and calendar events. You can set an LED light flash for incoming calls or have your iPhone display a photo of the caller. If you’re on your Mac, have it flash its screen when an app needs your attention. Or if you’re on the go, turn on the Taptic Engine on your Apple Watch to give you a gentle tap every time a notification comes in.

Set up Sensory Alerts on:

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Tell time with haptic feedback on Apple Watch

Mono Audio

Find the right balance for you.

Stereo recordings usually have distinct left- and right-channel audio tracks. Mono Audio can help streamline the differences by playing both audio channels in both ears. You can adjust the balance for greater volume in either ear, so you won’t miss a single note of a concerto or word of an audiobook.

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, iPod touch

Stereo recordings usually have distinct left- and right-channel audio tracks. Mono Audio can help streamline the differences by playing both audio channels in both ears. You can adjust the balance for greater volume in either ear, so you won’t miss a single note of a concerto or word of an audiobook.

Set up Mono Audio on:

FaceTime

Sign across the street.
Or across the globe.

FaceTime is a great way to communicate using sign language. With high‑quality video and a fast frame rate, FaceTime helps you catch every gesture and facial expression — from raised eyebrow to ear‑to‑ear smile. FaceTime detects when you are using sign language in Group FaceTime calls and will automatically make you prominent. And with Picture in Picture for FaceTime, you can continue viewing your call while multitasking.4

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod touch

FaceTime is a great way to communicate using sign language. With high‑quality video and a fast frame rate, FaceTime helps you catch every gesture and facial expression — from raised eyebrow to ear‑to‑ear smile. FaceTime detects when you are using sign language in Group FaceTime calls and will automatically make you prominent. And with Picture in Picture for FaceTime, you can continue viewing your call while multitasking.4

Set up FaceTime on:

Real‑Time Text (RTT)

Make and receive RTT calls right on your device.

Use your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch to make and receive RTT calls. Standard texting involves composing an entire message and tapping Send, but RTT provides instant transmission of a message as it is being composed (as well as support for braille displays). Transcripts for RTT calls are saved in your call history.5

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch

Real‑Time Text (RTT)

Use your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch to make and receive RTT calls. Standard texting involves composing an entire message and tapping Send, but RTT provides instant transmission of a message as it is being composed (as well as support for braille displays). Transcripts for RTT calls are saved in your call history.5

Updates:

In iOS, see incoming RTT messages as notifications when the RTT conversation view is outside your call. Reply quickly within that notification or expand it to see the whole thread.

Set up RTT on:

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Type to Siri

Your digital assistant is ready. Just type the word.

Your digital assistant will help you with the things you do every day — all through your keyboard. Type to Siri mode makes it easy to get the help you need right away. Use your onscreen keyboard to ask questions, set up reminders, issue commands, and more.6

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod touch

Your digital assistant will help you with the things you do every day — all through your keyboard. Type to Siri mode makes it easy to get the help you need right away. Use your onscreen keyboard to ask questions, set up reminders, issue commands, and more.6

Set up Type to Siri on:

Scribble

Quickly jot letters that turn into text.

Reply to a message by scribbling letters on your display, and your words automatically convert to typed text. Scribble makes it easy to say what you want with just a finger.

Available on:

iPad, Apple Watch

Reply to a message by scribbling letters on your display, and your words automatically convert to typed text. Scribble makes it easy to say what you want with just a finger.

Set up Scribble on:

Closed Captions

Customizable captions for movies, TV shows, and podcasts.

Closed captions are a text transcription of a video’s dialogue, as well as nonverbal communication. Supported in apps like the Apple TV app, closed captions are available in over 40 languages for movies, TV shows, videos, and podcasts — just look for the CC icon. You can even customize captions with different styles and fonts, including styles that are larger and outlined for better legibility.

Available on:

iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV

Closed captions are a text transcription of a video’s dialogue, as well as nonverbal communication. Supported in apps like the Apple TV app, closed captions are available in over 40 languages for movies, TV shows, videos, and podcasts — just look for the CC icon. You can even customize captions with different styles and fonts, including styles that are larger and outlined for better legibility.

Set up Closed Captions on:

Noise app

Track your hearing health.

The Noise app tracks decibel levels of the ambient sounds around you, helping you identify when the levels in your environment could negatively affect your hearing. If sounds around you are too loud, Apple Watch alerts you so that you can move to a quieter area. And all your information is stored in the Health app for easy access to your data whenever you need it.

Available on:

Apple Watch

The Noise app tracks decibel levels of the ambient sounds around you, helping you identify when the levels in your environment could negatively affect your hearing. If sounds around you are too loud, Apple Watch alerts you so that you can move to a quieter area. And all your information is stored in the Health app for easy access to your data whenever you need it.

Set up the Noise app on:

Apple Watch

Get more out of your features.

Learn tips, tricks, and how-tos for hearing features straight from Apple Support on YouTube.

Watch now

Discover more about Apple accessibility features.

Learn more